The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-05-19
GARFIELD IN BRONZE.
dwelling Of the Statue Erected
by Comrades in Arms.
sculpturcd as He Appeared in the Crown
ing Event of His Life.

by Comrades In Arms.
Sculpturcd as He Appeared in the Crown
ing Event of His Life.
WASHINGTON, May 12.-At an early hour this
morning detachments OF regular troops, militia
and other organizations that were to participate
in the parade, took possession Of the streets.
The music of brass bands was heard in every
quarter At noon the Executive Departments
were closed and added their quota to the
throngs on the sidewalks.
Long before II 80 o'clock the hour fixed for
the neighborhood OF the Arlington HOTEL and
large number Of spectators had arrived to Sc
cure some good positions from which 10 view the
formation of the parade.
AS the time for starting approached, the diff
ferent bodies which were to form the process
sion began TO arrive and take position on the
streets previously designated for the various
organizations. The aides to the Grand Marshal
of the Day, and the societies of the Garfield
Guard Of Honor and the Army Of the Cumber-
land, rendezvoused in front OF the Arlington
Hotel while the G. A. R., the Government
troops and the District Militia formed on streets
in the immediate vicinity. Promptly at II 30
o'clock General Baird, Chief Marshal of the
parade, gave the signal for marching and the
procession started. platoon of mounted
and his aides, who preceded a carriage in which
were seated Generals Sherman, Sheridan and
Rosecrans, three OF the four living commanders
of the Army Of the Cumberland, General Buell..
the remaining commander being unable to be
present.
Then followed the first division, composed as
follows: Band, battalion OF Third Artillery
(acting as infantry, Garfield Guard Of Honor,
Society Of the Army OF the Cumberland, Marine
Band and battalion OF marines, and a detach-
narfn nf fvvo hnp drad fha I
Galena. Second division-The District Militia
Composed Of the Washington Light Infantry
Corps, the two Union Veteran Corps, National
Rifles, Washington Continentals, Emmett Guard
Capitol City Guard, Butler Zouaves, Washing
ton Cadet Corps, High School Cadets and Cor
coran Cadets Grand Army of the Republic and
civic societies-the whole division under COM
mand of Major Goodoe, of the U. S. Marine
Corps.
The right of the procession moved up II
street to Eighteenth street, each organization
wheeling to line the left of the preceding
company passed. From Eighteenth street the
procession proceeded to Pennsylvania avenue,
down which it marched to Third street, where
the first division debouched and proceeded
down Third to Maryland avenue, and halted on
that avenue near the monument. The second
division continued on its course and took posi-
tion on First street, at the north OF the statue.
On grand stand near the statue seats had
been arranged for 500 persons number of
these were occupied at least an hour before the
procession arrived. The grand stand was pro-
fnsely draped with bunting and the speakers
stand was ornamented with graceful palms and
plants, while tattered flag hung from its stan
in either corner. pair of comfortable arm
chairs placed at the center Of the stand were
reserved for the President and Mrs. Cleveland.
Places were also reserved for the sculptor and
other favored guests The large circle surround
ing the monument was kept clear by the police
while the sidewalks were crowded with specta-
tors.
Just before o'clock the invited guests began
to arrive. James and Harry Garfield were
escorted to seats by General Mussey, while Col
onel Wilson performed similar office for the
aged w. w. Corcoran. The usual Thursday
Cabinet meeting was adjourned at an early hour
in order to enable the President and his ad-
vfsers to attend the unveiling ceremonies. Sec
rotary Bayard and Attorney General Garland
were among the early arrivals, and were seated
to the left OF Mrs. Cleveland. The members of
the Supreme Court Of the United States came
in a body, excepting Justices Wood and Harlan,
and were seated in the first row on the left OF
the speakers stand. The District Judiciary,
members of the Court of Claims and District
Commissioners were also present. Representa-
tives of the Diplomatic Corps were placed in
the right of the stand.
At o'clock Generals Sherman, Sheridan and
Rosecrans and Governor Curtin arrived in car
riage just after the head of the procession made
its appearance. They were soon followed by
President Cleveland, escorted by General An
derson and Secretary and Mrs. Fairchild Col
onel and Mrs Lamont, Postmaster General vi
las and Secretary Lamar. Mrs. Cleveland came
accompanied by Mrs. Folsom, Miss Bayard
o'clock oa ~ and sooa her seas aler beside
the Presidents chair. Ex-Secretary Window
and ex-Attorney General MacVeagh, of Presi-
dent Garfield's Cabinet, were among the guests
present. At 10 o'clock Marshal Wilson, taking
his place on the stand, said: attention ladies
GER ho 0f fho ARM yoff Tho
Cumberland, with these distinguished guests
are assembled here to-day for the purpose of
unveiling the statue of that eminent statesman
and soldier, James A. Garfield The exercises
will be opened with prayer by Rev. DR.. Giesy."
In his prayer the clergyman referred in glow
ing language to the merits of the illustrious
statesman to whom the statue was erected
The Marine Band. surrounding the monument
struck up Hail to the Chief" and amid the
clapping of hands the American flag enveloping
the statue was dropped and the great bronze
| image stood exposed to the rays Of the midday
sun.
There was short lull in the proceedings while
| battery of artillery fired National salute
General Sheridan then introduced the orator of
the day, General j. Warren Keifer, who on the
| part of the Monument Committee, delivered an
address transferring the statue to General
Sheridan.
The statue unveiled the orator declared, was
not alone in honor of citizen distinguished for
q
scholar eminent for his attachments; nor alone
to q soldier renowned for bravery and successful
| high command; nor alone to statesman and
politician wise and prudent as he was out
spoken and bold; nor yet alone to Chief Magis-
trate who welded the scepter of power in the
| interest OF the citizen; but to one who COM
bined within himself all these various
characters and illustrated all these quail
ties in single life. This statue was mainly
tribute from Garfield's immediate companions
tod Inv
love, born of camp, bivouac and battle; yet in q
| larger sense it was the Nations tribute to the
| memory of citizen, educator, soldier states
man and ruler.
After brief description of the monument,
| General Keifer sketched Gartield's career as
scholar, teacher, soldier, statesman and Presi-
dent, from his boyhood to the day of his death
at Elberon, and then in closing, said:
| my Comrades: He now musters with that
| larger part of the Army of the Cumberland
| who, having paid the penalty of devotion to
cause and country and fulfilled life's earthly
mission. have passed on to join the Grand Army
| of the Republic beyond the grave. We are all
| soon to be there and muster again as one re-
| united host.
Comrades, this splendid statue is worthy of
| you who conceived it, and it is worthy of the
great sculptor who created it, and it is also
| worthy of him whose life and character are so
| imperfectly described by me and SO grandly
| symbolized by the artist.
Enduring as this bronze statue may be, the
| ruthless vandal or iconocast may demolish it,
or time, that destroyer of all things not fash
| ioned by Omnipotence, will crumble it to dust
| What the artist has done, and what we may do
| or say here to preserve and to perpetuate his
| name or fame, may pass and be forgotten. But
| the sun Of his glory has risen full-orbed, high
| in the armament of eternal truth and justice
| there to shine on and on through the ages.
| Socrates was condemned to drink the fatal
| cup of hemlock and thus gave up his mortal
| nhilOSOOhv nof
| kill; it was immortal. So Garfield was doomed
to fall by the fatal bullet and thus surrender his
| immortal body but his words and deeds did not
die; they belong to eternity; they too are i'm
| mortal"
| General Keifer's speech formally transferred
j the statue from the Monument Committee to
! General Sheridan the President of the Society
i of the Army of the Cumherland and General